SEQUIM — A local firefighter will be transformed into Santa Claus on Monday for four evening forays into Sequim’s neighborhoods.
Santa’s Toy and Food Fire Brigade will set out at 5:30 p.m. Monday with the big, white-bearded guy well-equipped with candy canes, promised Lt. Marc Lawson, of Clallam County Fire Protection District No. 3.
Besides the spread of good cheer, the mission of the brigade is to collect new toys and nonperishable food for the fire district’s holiday drive.
Food donations will be given to the Sequim Food Bank while toys will go to Sequim Community Aid’s giant giveaway planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 N. Blake Ave., in Sequim.
Santa’s brigade will circulate through the residential neighborhoods west of Sequim Avenue on Monday night, those east of Sequim Avenue on Tuesday night, go into the Solmar neighborhood off Dryke Road on Wednesday night and finally to the streets around Priest Road on Thursday night.
“We’ll try to get up to Emerald Highlands,” in southeastern Sequim, Lawson said.
This is the second year for the toy and food brigade, “and we want to branch out,” added firefighter-paramedic Len Horst.
The firefighters will ride on District 3’s original engine, a vintage 1939 truck festooned with strings of lights and a Christmas tree, Horst added. Residents can expect Christmas music, the occasional siren and Santa announcing his presence.
“We’ll go around disturbing the peace,” Horst joked.
On each of the four nights, Claus and crew will start at 5:30 p.m. and stay out till around 8:30 p.m.
Those who miss the truck can donate new, unwrapped toys and packaged foods at District 3 headquarters at 323 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladaily news.com.
